CFFN Updates

Update 4: Friday, February 13, 2009

Please accept our sincere greetings from Canada Forum for Nepal (CFFN) to you. Today, we are bringing the following updates to you.

1. Project Rural Education Nepal: This project is intended to provide opportunity to grassroots people of North America to get directly involved with the grassroots people of Nepal. It has has made many strides since its inception two years ago. Today we update you on its activities of the last few months. Please visit www.cffn.ca/school to lean more about the project. Visit click here to see the brief history of the project’s evolution.
   1. Computer Training Workshop: Sumit Paudyal, a Ph.D. scholar from University of Saskatchewan, Canada conducted one week long computer training program from 24-29 August 2008 at Kushmisera of Baglung District. One teacher each from 19 schools in the area participated in the program.
   2. Local Awareness Project: Cultural Festival: On December 11, 2008 (Mangsir 26, 2065) CFFN sponsored local initiative to organize a cultural festival in Southern Baglung district, where cultural teams from various schools in the area competed in the premises of Shanti Higher Secondary School, Kushmisera.
   3. Local Awareness Project: Sports Competition: CFFN sponsored a sports competition organized through local initiative in collaboration with District Education Office from December 30, 2008 to January 2, 2009 (Poush 15-18, 2065) in Southern Baglung District. Teams from all Secondary Schools in the area competed in the premises of Shanti Higher Secondary School, Kushmisera.
   4. Computer Education: Tom Lea, a retired teacher of Computing Technology from Illinois USA has reached Janata Higher Secondary School, Baglung District, to lift the computer literacy one step up. His primary focus has been “train the trainer” so that the literacy could be spread in the region. He arrived at the school on January 10, 2009 and will stay there for a period of three months.
   5. Proposal for Uninterrupted Power Generation: Tom Lea found that the biggest hurdle faced by computer literacy programs in rural Nepal as the unavailability of reliable and predictable supply of electrical power. Consequently, he surveyed the local potential in the area for a permanent and uninterrupted source of power supply for the school. By the first week of February, 2009, he was able to do the necessary investigation and send a proposal for building 10kW hydropower station on Theule River dedicated to provide 24 hour uninterrupted power supply to the school . We are seeking US$32,000 to make this project a success.
   6. Research Survey on Women's Livelihood: Two researchers (Alexandre Genest and Genevieve Sarazin) from University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada went to Madi Village of Baglung District, Nepal to investigate on the issues and prospects for livelihood enhancement for the village women. They have completed their research and will be writing their findings in the next few months.
   7. Groundwork on Early Childhood Education: Michael Casey and Tineke Casey, two Nepal enthusiast Canadians are leaving Ottawa, Canada on February 18, 2009 to do the groundwork for establishing an Early Childhood Education Centre in a Dalit community.
   8. Survey on Broadband Wireless Connectivity: Michael Casey of Ottawa, Canada along with a CFFN Field Staff are embarking a survey a major section of Muktinath-Lumbini corridor for developing broadband wireless connectivity trunk. The broadband connection would be utilized to provide high speed Internet and Intranet service to local communities on the Muktinath-Lumbini corridor. This corridor crosses 12 districts: Mustang, Manang, Myagdi, Kaski, Baglung, Parvat, Gulmi, Syangja, Arghakhanchi, Palpa, Kapilvastu, Rupendehi.
   9. Proposal for Content Development: CFFN has prepared a proposal for an ambitious project for developing educational content for Kindergarten to Grade 12 classes in rural Nepal with the mobilization of individuals and organizations around the world. This project intends to harness the education and skills of Nepalese Diaspora to help develop the content.
   10. Hiring of Field Personnel: Two field staff have been recruited by CFFN to work with international volunteers and local people in making it possible to (1) facilitate communication between international volunteers and local people, (2) form user groups for piloting various programs of Project Rural Education Nepal, and (3) register local organization to oversee the work in Nepal.
   11. Securing 200 Computers: CFFN has acquired 200 computers to be distributed in select schools in Muktinath-Lumbini corridor. These computers will be loaded with appropriate software and be delivered to Nepal in coming months. Thanks to POA Educational Foundation for providing the computers and to Nepal Library Foundation for promise to transport the computers to Nepal.
   12. Proposal for Library: Tom Lea noticed that libraries are necessary foundations to strengthen education in rural Nepal. Having seen the lack of educational resources in the school where he is volunteering, he has prepared a proposal for establishing a library and sent his plea out towards us.
2. Workshops and Interaction Programs: CFFN organizes programs to advance knowledge that can bring positive development in society. Conversely, it also participates and contributes papers, articles, and thoughts in programs organized by others and through media. If you are ready for any scholarly contributions, we are here to accommodate you.
   1. Workshop on Youth Entrepreneurship: CFFN launched a youth group named CFFN Youth for Global Entrepreneurship (CYGE) in late 2008. This group organized a workshop on youth entrepreneurship with a successful Nepali entrepreneur Dr. Ramesh Sunar of North Carolina, USA on November 14, 2008. Please click here for details.
   2. Interactive Talk Program on Personal Success: CFFN Executive Director, Pramod Dhakal, presented a paper titled “In Search of Wisdom: Where Does Success Live?” in a workshop titled “Power of Persistence and Hope: A Pathway to Success” in Virginia, USA on January 31, 2009. Please click here for details.
   3. Interaction Program on Constitution and Federal Restructuring: On January 30, 2009, CFFN Executive Director, Pramod Dhakal, participated in a televised interaction program on Nepal’s constitutional issues and federal restructuring. Along with the keynote speaker Ken Thomas of USA, Pramod Dhakal presented his views on Federalism and Constitutional Reform.
   4. Presentation of Project Rural Education Nepal: The preliminary draft proposal of Project Rural Education Nepal was presented by Pramod Dhakal, who is also International Affairs Coordinator of NRN-Canada, on a community interaction program of NRN-Canada on January 18, 2009.
3. Other Contributions:
   1. Koshi Flood Relief Contribution: CFFN made a $2000 contribution to Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund in Nepal to help Koshi flood victims through NRN-Canada and NRNA in September 2008.

We invite you to be part of these great endeavors.

Sincerely,
Pramod Dhakal
Executive Director
Canada Forum for Nepal